Bridge for stringed musical instruments



July 1, 1941. c w WAGNER 2,247,565

BRIDGE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 17, 194i) WWI/4mm 2.... r 42 My:

Patented July 1, 1941 BRIDGE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Charles W. Wagner, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 17, 1940, Serial No. 361,469

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bridges for tringed musical instruments that are played by picking .or plucking the strings, such as guitars, mandolins and the like, and one of the objects of the same is to provide an improved bridge of this character having a base and top bar, the top bar being separate and disconnected from the base and being held in assembled relation with respect to the base by the strings of the instrument.

The top bar is adapted for free edgewise reciprocation or vibration with respect to the base, by the player, and against the tension or stress of the strings, the strings serving as a means for limiting such edgewise vibration, and with which construction the pick noises will be greatly decreased.

Furthermore, the player is enabled to change chords by sliding from one to the other, and is enabled to obtain vibrato or tremolo tones more readily than before, and at the same time the life of the strings will be greatly prolonged.

With the present invention the tonal qualities of the instrument will be greatly enriched, and portions of the string on both sides of the bridge for a substantial distance will be vibrated when the top bar of the bridge is vibrated edgewise.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a guitar having a bridge constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 2-2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the base of the bridge as taken on line 3-3 Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the top bar of the bridge.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l designates the body of a guitar, II the neck, and I2 the strings, all of the ordinary and well known construction.

The bridge consists essentially of a base l3 and a top bar IA. The base I3 is secured in any desired or suitable manner to the face I of the guitar or instrument and may be of any desired configuration, length and width, and constructed of any suitable material.

In the top of the base there is provided a series of elongated recesses 16 that open through the upper face thereof and these recesses are preferably elongated in a direction transverse to the strings of the instrument. If desired, portions of the base l3 intermediate the recesses and the respective ends of the parts may be cut away or hollowed out, as at H.

The top bar I4 is preferably of a length somewhat shorter than the length of the base l3 and in the lower face of the top bar there is provided a series of open recesses l8 which are also elongated in directions transverse to the strings of the instrument.

The recesses I8 in the top bar l4 and the recesses 16 in the upper face of the base l3 are so arranged that when the top bar is superposed upon the base IS, the recesses l8 in the top bar will register With the recesses in the base l3.

Balls or rollers I9 are provided which are seated in the recesses [6 in the base l3, and the diameter of the balls is such that When the top bar I4 is in position upon the base, the balls will also extend into the respective recesses l8 in the top bar.

The length of the recesses l6 and I8 is substantially greater than the diameter of the balls or rollers [9. Any number of these recesses and. balls may be provided but in the present exemplification of this invention four recesses are shown in both the base and top bar and four balls or rollers are employed.

The top bar I4 is preferably provided with the usual raised head 20 having seats 2| therein for the reception of the strings.

In use and when the top bar I4 is in assembled relation with respect to the base l3, the parts are held in such assembled relation by means of the strings l2 which are seated in. the recesses 2| in the head 20. The tension or stress of the strings upon the head 20 of the top bar M will not only hold the parts of the bridge against accidental displacement but the strings will permit the top bar I4 to be moved edgewise or vibrated by the hand of the player. The balls or rollers 19 permit a free edgewise movement of the top bar [4 and also reduces friction between the top bar and the base.

The bridge is located in the ususal position on the face of the instrument and when in position the strings will extend for a substantial distance on both sides of the bridge, thereby increasing or enriching the tonal qualities of the instrument inasmuch as substantial portions of the string on both sides of the bridge will be vibrated.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of th several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a bridge for stringed musical instruments, a base, and a top bar separate from, mounted upon and unanchoredwith respect to the said base and slidable across the base, the strings of the instrument constituting the sole means for main taining the top bar for free sliding movement across said base, said bar being free from operating attachments.

2. In a bridge for stringed musical instruments, a base, a top bar separate from, mounted upon and unanchored with respect to the said base said top bar being held. in position with respect to and slidable thereacross, the strings of the instrument constituting the sole means for maintaining the top bar in assembled sliding relation to said base, and roller bearings between said base and top bar, said bar being free from operating attachments.

3. A bridge for stringed musical instruments embodying two members separate from each other one of which is slidable edgewise with respect to the other the strings of the instrument alone maintaining the two members in assembled relation, whereby the slidable member may be freely reciprocated with respect to the other member, said slidable member being free from any operating attachment and being reoiprocable solely by the hand of the player.

4. A bridge for stringed musical instruments embodying two members separate from each other, one of which is freely vibratable upon the other, and free from any operating attachment, the strings of the instrument maintaining said members in assembled relation, the instrument strings also constituting the sole means for limiting the vibrating movement of the movable member.

CHARLES W. \VAGNER. 

